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Preliminary 2015 Planning: Roster Analysis and Depth Chart (part 2)
The infield has two of our best players and a couple of weaknesses.
First Base
Rick Thomas is the incumbent. He was acquired in a trade two years ago and has not lived up to expectations. Thomas is 29 and I don’t see him improving much. The best thing I can say about him is that he bats right-handed with some amount of power. Thomas is in his last year of arbitration and the estimate is $5.5 million. I think I can do better on the free agent market for less money. I will non-tender Thomas and take my chances. There is no one behind him of note in the entire organization.
Second Base
Lance Morrison (.243/.319/.351, 25 SB) is a defensive wizard and could contend for a Gold Glove if he was ever noticed. His bat did not get him noticed last season, but he hit .308 in his rookie year. He has another year before arbitration and won’t be expensive even then. I could use another option at this position, but I have higher priorities. I value defense at second base and shortstop, and someone has to bat eighth.
Third Base
Phil Gillespie (.284/.312/.498, 28 HR, 100 RBI, and 23 SB) is one of the best players on the team. He is a 25-year-old left-handed power hitter with speed and great defensive skills. He is still at minimum salary this season, but he will be an expensive arbitration case next year if I don’t sign him to an extension. He has been playing first base against right-handed pitching but I view that as a waste of his defensive ability. Gillespie will be the full-time third baseman this season and I will find someone else to play first base.
Shortstop
Luis Vargas just completed his third season as the Colonels shortstop. His career slash line (.326/.381/.408) is impressive. Vargas is a left-handed batter that makes consistent contact and has a good eye. The 23-year-old also possesses Gold Glove defense. He is a logical leadoff hitter, but we already have one of those so he bats second.
Vargas was Louisville’s #1 draft pick in 2010 out of high school and spent very little time in the minors. Consequently, he reached arbitration eligibility at a young age and was signed to a long-term contract one month before I arrived. The contract will pay him $44 million over 5 years, so it is not a bad deal for his ability.
To be continued…
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